Blagojevich trial subpoenas White House aides

by Mike Robinson - Jun. 3, 2010 12:00 AMAssociated Press

CHICAGO - Lawyers for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich have subpoenaed White House chief of staff Rahm Emanuel as a witness at his corruption trial, attorneys close to the case and a White House official say. White House adviser Valerie Jarrett also was subpoenaed, another White House official said.

Blagojevich's racketeering and fraud trial is due to get under way today with jury selection, after 18 months of skirmishing in the courts and the news media. The former governor, who is accused of trying to sell President Barack Obama's former Senate seat, has pleaded not guilty.

The attorneys close to the case spoke on condition of anonymity, saying Emanuel's subpoena was not public. Both White House officials also spoke on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing investigation.

If Emanuel did take the witness stand, he might be asked about what effort if any the White House had made to get Blagojevich to appoint Jarrett to the Senate seat. Neither Emanuel nor Jarrett, who was mentioned as a possible candidate for the seat but withdrew her name to become a White House adviser, has been accused of any wrongdoing.

According to the indictment, Blagojevich ordered an associate to pressure Emanuel - then a Chicago congressman - to get his Hollywood agent brother to raise funds. It says Blagojevich told the associate to threaten to withhold money for a school in Emanuel's congressional district. But there is nothing in the indictment to suggest that Emanuel was actually threatened.

Blagojevich and his brother, Nashville businessman Robert Blagojevich, have pleaded not guilty to charges that they schemed to profit from the governor's power to fill the Senate seat. They have also pleaded not guilty to plotting to join with his key advisers to mobilize the powers of the governor's office to further a moneymaking racketeering scheme.

U.S. District Judge James Zagel turned down a request from Rod Blagojevich's lawyers for a delay in the trial, telling them to get ready to start picking a jury today. Scores of potential jurors were already in the federal courthouse filling out questionnaires.